Metal nanoparticle preparation within modifiable p(4-VP) microgels and their use in hydrogen production from NaBH4 hydrolysis

Composite poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-silica (p(4-VP)–Si) nanoparticles were synthesized, employing trimethoxy vinyl silane (TMVS) as silica forming agent using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, and ammonium persulfate (APS) as the initiator in an oil-in-water micro emulsion system. Porous p(4-VP) nanoparticles were generated from p(4-VP)–Si by treatment with hydrofluoric acid (HF). The size of p(4-VP)-based particles ranged between 300 and 500 nm. The porous p(4-VP) particles have a surface area of 42.26 m²/g. We also report preparation of various metal nanoparticles, such as Co and Ni, inside bare p(4-VP), p(4-VP)–Si and porous p(4-VP) nanoparticles by absorption from the corresponding metal ions aqueous solution and then reduction with NaBH₄. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine the metal particle content of the p(4-VP)-based nanoparticles. The hydrogen production rate of Co-containing p(4-VP) was found to be superior to Ni-containing p(4-VP) under the same conditions. Cobalt-containing p(4-VP)–Si and porous p(4-VP) microgel composites can generate hydrogen faster than Co-containing p(4-VP). Moreover, p(4-VP)-based microgels showed seven fold hydrogen production rate, and almost five fold turn over frequency (TOF) than p(AMPS) microgels in terms of catalytic performances reported earlier.     

Determination and dispersion of pollutants from different fuel types used in brick kilns by using Gaussian’s plume model

The present study was conducted to compare the concentration of pollutants and their level of dispersion in the atmosphere from the plume of brick kilns using different types of fuels. For this purpose, two brick kilns were selected based on their fuel type. One type of fuel was good quality coal (F1) and the other was low-quality coal mixed with wood (F2). The air emissions data illustrated that carbon monoxide concentration was more (108 ± 0.90 ppm) in the plume of F1 than in the plume of F2 (82 ± 0.98 ppm) and sulfur dioxide was more (1955 ± 3.76 ppm) in the plume of F2 than in the plume of F1 (6 ± 0.07 ppm). The Gaussian plume model showed that plume from good quality coal as fuel (F1) disperses 0.7 ± 0.01 km horizontally and 4 ± 0.03 km vertically whereas the plume from low-quality coal mixed with wood (F2) disperse 1 ± 0.01 km horizontally and 2 ± 0.02 km vertically. Pearson correlation also showed a significant (p < 0.05) difference between both fuel types. These high concentrations can have negative impacts on the atmospheric environment as well as community health.     

In situ mullite foam fabrication using microwave energy

In situ mullite ceramic foams were fabricated using polymeric sponge replication method from ceramic slurry containing alpha alumina and kaolin mixtures. Ceramic preforms were processed using microwave energy and conventional heating. The sintered foam samples were characterized by SEM and XRD observations, density measurements and compression tests in order to observe the effect of two different sintering techniques on the structure and properties. It was found that the microwave processing was completed in a shorter burning out and sintering cycle and produced structures having higher mullite transformation ratio and fine grains.     

Effects of SiC addition on the structure and properties of reticulated porous mullite ceramics

Reticulated porous mullite ceramics (mullite RPCs) were produced by the polymer replica method using alpha alumina and kaolin to form in situ mullite. Up to 30% particulate silicon carbide (SiCp) was added to ceramic mixtures to explore its effect on the structure and properties of the sintered products. The ceramic slurry was coated onto polyurethane sponge using preset roller method, then recoating was applied by the spray coating technique. The strength of the mullite RPCs was found to depend greatly on the phase composition of the structures and on the amount of SiCp addition.     

Comparison of CFD Simulation to Experiment for Convection Heat Transfer in an Enhanced Channel

The numerical and experimental study of heat transfer characteristics in an enhanced channel with turbulent flow is presented. Numerical computations have been done for a periodic element of the channel with periodically fully developed flow using a commercial finite element code. The main objective of this study was to use computational fluid dynamics to obtain convection heat transfer coefficients with air as the fluid. Numerical predictions were compared with experimental results, and a reasonably good agreement was found between the two. It is shown that the channel investigated in this study improves the convection heat transfer coefficient. For high Reynolds number flow conditions, Nusselt numbers in this channel exceeded those in the parallel plate channel by approximately 220%.     

Characterisation of Pomegranate Juices from Ten Cultivars Grown in Turkey

Pomegranate juices obtained from ten pomegranate cultivars of Turkey were analysed for their sugars, organic acids and the other quality parameters including pH, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity. Statistically significant differences were determined among the cultivars for parameters analysed. Citric acid was the predominant acid of all the cultivars studied. Cultivar “Zivzik,” one of the most popular cultivar in Turkey, showed best scores for total soluble solids (16.9 ± 0.06 °Brix), glucose (84.18 ± 0.42 g/l) and fructose (83.34 ± 0.81 g/l). Pomegranate juices were classified into three groups according to principal component analysis and cluster analysis.     

Investigation of the adhesion of NbN coatings deposited by pulsed dc reactive magnetron sputtering using scratch tests

Scratch tests have been used to investigate the adhesion of niobium nitride (NbN) coatings that were deposited by pulsed dc reactive magnetron sputtering at target currents of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 A onto M2 tool steel and silicon wafer. The coating adhesion on each material substrate was investigated using a progressive load scratch tester (PLST) and a multi-pass scratch tester (MPST). Microhardness tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were also used to examine the hardness and microstructure of the NbN coatings. These results have indicated that the structural, mechanical, and adhesion properties of the NbN coatings improve with increasing target currents. While performing PLST and MPST tests, the highest adhesion and lowest friction force were obtained for the coatings deposited at a target current of 3.5 A. In addition, the triboscobic behaviors that were observed from the MPST of the coatings indicated that the target currents affect the friction behavior of the coatings.     

A sensitivity analysis for the design of small-scale hydropower plant: Kayabogazi case study

In this study, the feasibility of hydroelectric power generation from the Kayabogazi dam, which was built by The State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI) in 1987 in the town of Tavsanli, Kutahya, for irrigation and flood control purposes is investigated. Since a certain amount of water is supplied from the dam to the town of Tavsanli as drinking water, that amount is deducted from the total and is not allowed to be used in the process of electric power generation. By evaluating the amount of incoming water to the Kayabogazi dam in the period of 1995 and 2003 years, the most agreeable turbine type and size is decided for a small hydropower plant (SHP). In this purpose, seven different cases have been taken into consideration. As a conclusion, the case used three turbines which one of them is installed to utilize from the higher flow rates has been determined as the best configuration. In this study, a power generation ranging between 0.313 and 4.997 MW has been achieved in the viewpoint of installed capacity for Kayabogazi dam. Hence, it has been estimated an electricity generation up to 10,579 MWh per annum.     

Gas detonation forming process and modeling for efficient spring-back prediction

Aluminum cylindrical cups are formed with gas detonation forming technology and finite element modeling of aluminum cylindrical cup production with the detonation forming technology is performed. The forming process simulation is carried out in two-step analysis. 2D and 3D computational models are constructed with both explicit and implicit dynamic analyses are performed. The effects of detonation pressure and die design parameters also are investigated. The thickness distribution and deformed geometry of the cups are compared with the experimentally determined values. The spring-back predictions based on the explicit and implicit methods are criticized in terms of deformed shape accuracy and elapsed time.